Paul Stübner, Glashütte Sa.

, Movement No. 899, Height 1540 mm, circa 1934

precision regulator with Riefler pendulum No. 2664, DRP 100870 and detailed original documentation including correspondence, delivery notes and original invoce, sold on 1st of December 1943 to Captain Wilhelm Stauf ind Eiserfeld/Siegen

"These clocks are the best timekeepers available and they cannot be compared to lower-priced models." These are the words Paul Stübner of Glashütte writes to the recipient of this precision pendulum clock, former colonel Wilhelm Stauf. After some discussion, Stauf decides on a clock "of the most advanced technology", which at the time is only available as so-called "quality II". Stübner guarantees a maximum daily rate of drift of half a second per day per degree Celsius for this model (as compared to 0.05 seconds for clocks of quality I).

Paul Stübner was born in Glashütte in 1860; one of his brothers was Fridolin Stübner, another skilled watchmaker. Paul Stübner had seven daughters (which brought him the nickname "girls‘ Stübner") and worked for Strasser & Rohde for 25 years before opening his own business in 1905; most likely his motivation for this was the imperial navy’s intention to become independent from foreign marine chronometer suppliers. Stübner ran his business very successfully until the 1930s, when he more or less retired. He died in 1946 a few days after a fire in his house, where he suffered severe smoke inhalation.

From 1905 on Stübner produced precision pendulum clocks in three quality standards to begin with and later reduced it to two standards; this number 899 dating from 1934 is one of the last clocks he made. Most of his clocks were fitted with Riefler pendulums; he also began using pendulums by Strasser & Rohde around 1920. Movements and cases are always of top quality – as we can see with this timepiece, where a rather stark oak case serves to underscore the outstanding technology of the clock. #42579